I found the best fried chicken sandwiches of 2016

As I've said before, we've reached the zenith of the
fried-chicken sandwich — and I couldn't be happier.

These are tumultuous times; more than ever, we need some crispy,
crunchy, golden, and delicious chicken served up in a bun.

I
taste-tested a
glut of chicken sandwiches from major fast-food chains this
year to find which chain does it best.

There were some surprises (Arby's makes a fried-chicken
sandwich?) and some severe disappointments.

But what's most surprising — to me, at least — are the
sandwiches which tasted the best. Not McDonald's new recipe, not
Wendy's reliable Homestyle, not even Chick-fil-A's inimitable
classic snagged the top spot.

It was KFC's sandwich, sharing the throne with Shake
Shack's.

The delicious "Doublicious" in
question.Hollis
Johnson

I can already hear the cries: What? How could Chick-fil-A not
be the best of them all? KFC, the chain of
mutant chickens and the
creepy Colonel? And then a chicken sandwich from a burger
joint? Come on.

The Doublicious from KFC is a beautiful creation. A crispy
breast of KFC's finest chicken, resplendent with the
mysterious herbs and spices, swathed in bacon, Monterrey Jack
cheese, and some sweet, tangy sauce — all lovingly embraced by a
fluffy and lightly sweet Hawaiian bun.

Smokey bacon lends a richness to the sandwich that
melds seamlessly with the mild and rich cheese. The chicken is
crispy and thin. There's the unmistakable tang of
buttermilk in every bite.

Hollis
Johnson

The sauce seems to be a combination of mayonnaise and
barbecue sauce, with perhaps a pinch of paprika and garlic.
It adds a perfect balance of smooth, creamy flavor and a
vinegary kick all while managing to play second fiddle to the
chicken and bacon.

In terms of quality, it seems more genuine than
countless other items on the menu. There's little "gross
factor" with this sandwich, which can't be said for most of the
competition, or even of KFC's own sides.

And yes, Chick-fil-A's sandwiches are always fantastic — I'm not
denying this by any stretch of the imagination. Classics are
classics for a reason, and if we were judging on terms of
tradition, Chick-fil-A would walk away victorious with ease.

But KFC's Doublicious is a surprisingly flavorful, rich sandwich
that manages to sidestep the looming, greasy shadow of KFC's
previous sandwich of note, the quadruple-bypass-to-go that was
the "Double
Down."

It's not too much, or too little; it's simply delicious.

Does it beat Shake Shack's chicken sandwich? That's a harder
question to answer.

Hollis
Johnson

Shake Shack's beautifully crisp and golden creation was
first rolled out in 2015 as a test item in Brooklyn locations
only — its nationwide release happened in January 2016, meaning
it counts as a contender for best chicken sandwich of 2016.

And boy, what a contender. Could-'a had
class, could-'a been somebody? This sandwich oozes class,
plus a deliciously tangy and smooth herb mayonnaise that
dances a delicate waltz with the tart, crunchy pickles and
perfectly peppered breading on the chicken.

This chicken sandwich is pretty darn close to the American ideal
of a chicken sandwich: fried to a crispy crunch, yet juicy and
tender; mayo and pickles and lettuce swaddled by a plush potato
bun.

Hollis
Johnson

But comparing it to KFC's Doublicious is comparing apples to
oranges — bacon to, well, chicken. They're both
staggeringly delicious in their own ways. The Doublicious
relies on a vinegar and barbecue sauce, and salty bacon to
take the eater on a strangely satisfying journey — an itinerary
hitting every taste bud grouping from salty to sweet. The Colonel
would've made a bang-up taste bud travel agent, if
either were still around.

The Chick'n Shack takes a more traditional approach, which is
downright refreshing in today's stunt food environment. Nothing
here but a bun, some pickles and lettuce, and some herb mayo,
slathered on perhaps the most rewarding fried chicken breast
ever known in the realm of chain restaurants. It has little
pretense — its superiority lies only in its quality and delivery.

So do yourself a favor and start 2017 off on a good note — try
one of these pinnacles of fried fowl. Or even better, try both.